Mel Kiper Jr.: Rolando McClain perfect pick for Dolphins

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain at No. 8 on his latest big board unveiled Wednesday afternoon, but said on a conference call with the national media that he still has McClain slotted to Miami with the No. 12 selection.

“He’s a heckuva player,” Kiper said. “Worthy of being that high a choice. He’s always been regarded as an elite player – he has a lot of fire and intensity, sets the tone, has a Ray Lewis-type enthusiasm for the game. This is an inside linebacker who looks like an outside linebacker.”

Mel Kiper Jr. says he believes linebacker Rolando McClain will go to the Dolphins at No. 12 in the NFL Draft. (Getty Images)

Recognizing the Dolphins’ need for a top-flight wide receiver, Kiper said Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant will “be in the discussion” if he’s still on the board when Miami selects. Kiper currently has Bryant going to Denver at No. 10.

“They need wide receiver help, so it’ll be a heckuva discussion if he’s still on the board. But I still think that when you look at (Bill) Parcells, and the way he loves linebackers, he’s going to love a guy with this kind of size and ability.”

Kiper also touched on both the wide receiver and nose tackles positions, where the Dolphins might well go in later rounds.

He said LSU’s Brandon LaFell, who caught 63 passes for 929 yards and eight touchdowns last season, “would have been a first-rounder if he had been a little more consistent catching the ball this season.”

He said LaFell is one of several underclassmen who made this year’s receiver class a lot better. “It wouldn’t have been very good without those guys,” he said.

Asked about nose tackle prospects he said Alabama’s Terrence Cody is clearly the class of the group but that weight issues could move him to late in the first round. After that he perceives Tennessee’s Dan Williams as second-best, figuring he’ll go in the 28-32 range. “He moved up about a round-and-a-half from where he would have been.”

Cade Weston of Georgia and Cam Thomas of North Carolina are other nose tackles Kiper thinks could go in the first three rounds.

Archives

Categories

Trackbacks

[…] Mel Kiper Jr.: Rolando McClain perfect pick for Dolphins ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain at No. 8 on his latest big board unveiled Wednesday afternoon, but said on a conference call with the national media that he still has McClain slotted to Miami with the No. 12 selection. “He’s a heckuva player,” Kiper said. “Worthy of being that high a choice. He’s always been regarded as an elite player – he has a lot of fire and intensity, sets the tone, has a Ray Lewis-type enthusiasm for the game. This is an inside linebacker who looks like an outside linebacker.” [More] […]